Manchester United freeze ticket prices for next season in attempt to appease fans

24 March 2010 05:01

Viewed : 26

Following discussions involving the Glazers and senior officials at Old Trafford, United have informed the club's 55,000 season ticket holders that prices for the 2010/11 season will remain at the same levels as this campaign.

Match-by-match ticket prices for United members will also be pegged at this season's rates of between £27 and £49, with concessionary prices for seniors and juniors remaining the reduced prices of £20 and £10 respectively.

Related ArticlesHargreaves return a painful oneKlinsmann backs Rooney for European accoladePremier League predictionsGarrido: Tevez is Man City's RooneyRibery fit to face United in Champions LeagueFernando Torres escapes further penaltyWith the club's recent bond issue, which raised £500 million, highlighting a debt of £716.5 million, the threat of a rise in ticket prices had been raised in the bond prospectus.

That prospect led to the rapid growth of the supporter-led green-and-gold campaign aimed at driving the Glazers out of Old Trafford. The Red Knights, a group of wealthy individuals planning to raise funds for a takeover bid, have also urged fans to boycott season ticket renewals in order to hit the Glazers' revenue streams.

But with the Glazers now announcing a price-freeze, the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) claim that the green-and-gold campaign has influenced the surprise move.

MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo said: 'There's no way that the owners would have done anything than increase prices significantly if the campaign hadn't grown.

'The green and gold in the stands has obviously got the people in Tampa rattled and they're trying to buy off supporters. I don't believe that will happen.

'We know that 75 pence in every pound of profit leaves the club. The Glazers are very bad for the club. We've had huge ticket prices in the past so a freeze now is just a freeze at very high prices.'

Meanwhile, Darzie Glazer, the Manchester United non-executive director, has fuelled supporter hostility towards the club's owners by purchasing a $20.5 million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

The five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home, which includes a swimming pool and boat dock, has been acquired by Darcie, and husband Joel Kassewitz, just two months after the prospectus for the £500 million bond prospectus aimed at easing United's £716.5 million debt revealed that the Glazers have taken £23 million out of the club in fees and personal loans.

The Glazers, who can take a dividend of £25 million at any time during the length of the seven-year bond, have previously been described as 'leeches' by fans' groups aiming to drive the Americans out of the club.